Enjoyed on-tap @ Country Boy Brewing in Lexington, KY for $5.50. Tapped from a Creative Wooden Carved Tap Handle (they all are like this here) into a 16oz Pint Glass.

Aroma- Has a nice dry hopped, piney aroma through all the malts. Very sweet after this and malty. Like a Black IPA should be.

Appearance- Received with a .5 finger, dark tan head that has average retention. Has the deepest brown body with no clarity. Leaves a few suds behind.

Flavor- Has a very strong hop flavor through all of these malts. Black malts are one of the most dominate characteristics and very well pronounced. Bready, hoppy, and light bitterness. Overall Flavor, Good!

Country Boy's first "imperial" ale kicks of with a bang. With all the citrusy and bitter hop character you want in an Imperial IPA but with the dark color of a Porter, this beer answers any debate of whether to go dark, hoppy, or strong in any drinking session.

This decidedly dark ale pours with a solid dark brown hue that allows for garnet highlights to penetrate its austere haze. A dainty espresso-like creme caps the beer before sucumbing to the weight and alchol of the beer underneath. Mild lace adorns the glass with each sip taken.

Hoppy aromas dictate the nose with a zesty blend of citrus pith, pine resin, and vegetal herbs and grasses. The mildly roasty backdrop introduces elements of charred wood, cocoa, and coffee but these complementary scents never command direct attention away from the hoppy onslaught.

Zesty hop flavors live up to expectations in taste as well. A nearly sticky resin character straddles the fence of pine and white grapefruit pith just before developing into a deeply resiny, earthy, and almost dank herbal bitterness in finish. As the semi-malty sweetness to start fades, this allows for the mild roast of burnt embers, coffee, and cocoa powder to complement the hop bitterness in finish.

Medium malty body is aided by creamy carbonation for a full and lush mouthfeel. Soon after the first draw, the hop and alchol warmth and dryness absorb the malt richness and allow for a decidedly bitter and dry finish.

Heart of Dankness is an incredibly strong and complex beer that's sure to be the delight of all fans of IPAs and dark, heavy ales. Thoughts of Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale comes to mind although the low-lying carbonation here allows the malt to make a sweeter impression and a lighter creamy influence.